Keep Your Tooth Health Through the Holidays

Posted November 6, 2017.

The holiday season seems to have snuck up on us. They were just here, last year! But, here we are. And along with those holidays comes lots of party food, and lots of opportunities for tooth decay and oral emergencies. Avoid the intrusion on your holidays by following a few holiday health care tips.

Remember to brush your teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes each time. If you have trouble spending that much time on your teeth, turn on one of your favorite holiday tunes and get carried away in the holiday spirit! The two minutes will fly by. Floss once a day, for 2-3 minutes each time. Floss all the way around every tooth, including behind the back molars.

It’s also good to remember that the holidays don’t change your fundamental nutritional requirements. Fill your diet with lots of whole fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and lean proteins! All these foods are full of nutrients vital for mouth health. If you cannot have dairy, be sure to include lots of calcium-rich dairy alternatives, such as beans, dark leafy greens, and fortified orange juice.

As you prepare your holiday foods, go ahead and include some sweets–just be smart about it. Accompany all sweet dishes with a large glass of water to clean out the sugars from your mouth. Don’t snack on sugar consistently throughout the day–eat a treat or three, then be done for a while. Try chewing a piece of sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating to further clean your mouth and prepare your teeth for brushing.